REVIEW OF FUJIFILM X-T2 by Rachel Stinson

Fujifilm has carved out a niche for itself with its X-series mirrorless cameras, combining high-tech image processing with a classic design that leads to cameras that look as good as the photos they take. It’s a recipe that worked very well with enthusiast-level photographers, even though other brands, like Sony, may have offered more bang for the buck about features.

Autofocus – Part and parcel of that 24MP sensor are the 169 phase-detection points, as we have seen in the central square area of the sensor on the X-Pro2. Additionally, the X-T2 is now getting two additional columns of 13 contrast-detection AF points on each side of the frame; the AF area stretches and brings a total of 325 AF points in total.

Design and control – The X-T2 are styled like a slimmed-down SLR. Its viewfinder is centered and slightly behind the lens mount, hidden nanny cams and the omission of a mirror box reduces the distance between lens and sensor, which reduces the overall body dimensions of the body in kind. It measures 3.6 by 5.2 by 1.9 inches (HWD) and weighs 1.1 pounds without lenses. There is no inbuilt flash, but a clip-on external flash is included. Fujifilm offers the X-T2 in Black or Graphite Silver Edition.

Battery life – Battery life is rated at 340 shots based on CIPA testing (a slight decrease from the 350-shot rating of the X-T1). However, real world performance may be much better, depending on your use. In our testing, we captured 424 exposures with the battery indicating 50-percent capacity remaining (with Boost mode turned off).

Image quality – The X-T2 has a 24MP image sensor with an X-Trans color filter. Fuji’s main X-Trans design uses a more complex color filter array than the Bayer sensors that most other spy video cameras use. Fujifilm states that this gives a film-like appearance, and improves the overall image quality at higher ISO settings. The design also reduces the appearance of color moiré, while eliminating the need for an optical low-pass filter (OLPF) – the result is crisper images than cameras using OLPF.

Flash control – One of the missing pieces of an increasingly well fleshed-out XF mount system has been the lack of advanced flash control – something that the X-T2 is looking to address. So far, users had to turn to third-party makers if they want to communicate TTL flash information to remote flash units. The newly introduced Flash EF-X500 enables high-speed flash sync and remote TTL flash control for the first time, making it much easier to use the X-T2 with strobes.

Video – Undoubtedly, the biggest surprise of the X-T2 was the video mode. It’s the first Fujifilm camera to shoot in Ultra HD, and this wasn’t just some last-minute add-on to check off a box on the spec sheet. The camera records video from a 6K crop of the sensor, producing oversampled 4K that makes for crisper results.

Features like these show that Fujifilm has taken a keen interest in the higher-end videography market. It’s an unexpected move for the company, which seemed to pride itself on building niche cameras for still photographers, but it is certainly a welcome one. Hybrid still and video shooters who may have been interested in the X-T1, but had to look elsewhere due to that pen camera’s lackluster video capabilities, now have a very good reason to reconsider Fujifilm.

Final Thought – Fujifilm has always made cameras that are defined more by the experience of using them than their performance, but the X-T2 may be the first to buck this trend. With it, Fujifilm is hitting its stride and showing that it isn’t afraid of comparing the X-T2 to cameras from other brands based on specs, even about the video. It is the most full-featured camera the company has ever put out, and offers a best-in-class user experience for advanced users.

Rachel Stinson has always had a knack for writing, food, fashion, and places. Blogging has combined all four for her with an added bonus of enthusiastic audiences. She expertly analyzes real estates, restaurants and electronics stores with respect to pricing and people involved and can express her opinions in an unhesitant, engaging manner for all matters.

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